The Telegraph and Beyond: The Impact of Early Communication Technologies on Globalization
In human history, a few innovations have produced results and influenced civilization as communication technologies did. From the primordial echoes of spoken language to the digital tools of the modern age, every era has seen the emergence of new technologies that have reshaped the landscape of human interaction. However, it is important to note that among these transformative inventions, none holds a candle at the crossroads of connectivity and progress other than the telegraph and its progeny.
We have come a long way from the telegraph; however, we can’t ignore this great communication tool, as all we have now is an evolution of its success. These days, you can just use your smartphone or other gadgets that you own to communicate with others far and near, access entertainment platforms like 7Slots, purchase goods online, and read e-books. All great stories have their beginnings, and your favorite handheld device didn’t appear out of nothing; it needed much time to evolve from its predecessors. Learning the lessons of the past has brought us thus far into a more interconnected world that unites all.
As we proceed, we will explore the impact of these early communication technologies on what we have today.
Early Communication Technologies
Humans have been known to communicate through different methods. One of the oldest and vintage techniques is writing. However, times have changed. These days, we are more for sending and receiving messages internationally and immediately, rather than writing letters and waiting for so long. The emergence of social media has further improved instantaneous messages and responses than ever before.
The 19th century laid the foundation for today’s interconnected globalization. At this time, railway and telegraph lines were laid generously. Their implementation and availability made it possible for people to send and receive messages speedily to far distances, which had never happened before. As telegrams became popular, the telephone was not far behind. It's true to say that the so-called joint ventures of the above-mentioned innovations enabled rapid news circulation in this era. Rather than waiting for a couple of days or weeks, the news could now reach people in hours.
Let’s walk down memory lane to see how early communication was and its influence on the global digitization we enjoy today.
Printing Press Circulation
By the time Johannes Gutenberg designed its printing press mechanisms, paper houses were able to print about 3,600 pages daily. Hence, the prices of books dropped, and people began to have more access to media. However, printing technology continued to evolve from the 18th to the 19th centuries.
Then came the revolutionary steam-powered printing press. Its emergence allowed the Times of London to print a minimum of 1,100 pages per hour. This speedier technology helped to maximize circulation in multiple folds in just a few decades.
Instantaneous Telegraph Messaging
The first message from an electronic telegraph was sent by Samuel Morse from Washington DC to Baltimore in 1844. The emergence of the telegraph changed communications and made it faster and easier to send almost instant messages to farther locations. About six years after this achievement, the United States laid more cables to enhance these far-fetched messages further. The Western Union completed the first telegraph line to the East Coast from the West in 1861. Hence, by 1929, over two hundred million telegrams had already been transmitted.
Transatlantic Telegram Breakthrough
Telegraph cables were used to exchange messages before the reliance on fiber optic cables. Having been placed as deep as a couple of miles undersea, the cables contributed to faster communication not only within one continent but across various geographical regions. Hence, the first-ever telegram across the Atlantic was sent in 1858. This was about fourteen years after Samuel Morse sent his.
Queen Victoria sent the first transatlantic message. The recipient, President James Buchanan, got the message in about sixteen hours. He sent a response, which was received ten hours later. During this period, the telegram became the major mode of interaction across oceans, both for sharing important news that affected the world and personal messages. When it comes to conveying major events, it must be mentioned that the telegram was used to transmit the news when the Titanic sank.
First Telephone Emergence
While the telegram continued gaining prominence, Alexander Graham Bell low-key designed a device to enable more direct communication between people. Yes, we are talking about the telephone. The patent for the invention was received in 1876 from the American government. It rapidly gained prominence in the United States until it became international in 1927. During the experimental phase, we had the first transatlantic phone call ever. This conversation happened between Evelyn Murray, who was a secretary in the British General Post Office, and the president of AT&T (The American Telephone and Telegraph Company), W.S. Gifford.
Mass Communication Era
By the 20th century, there were tons of technological advancements dominating the globe. One of which is mass communications. The emergence of radio and television gave a wider audience instant access to entertainment and news. This was a significant feat compared to getting messages through the telegram or using the train. This birthed the cellular phone and satellites that helped people communicate globally later on.
The emergence of satellites for military use and the telephone for mundane communication birthed other technologies as they advanced. They include:
The World Wide Web;
Short Message Service;
Search engines like Google;
Social media, beginning with Facebook and the other variations, like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, X, and TikTok;
Smartphones;
Remote learning and work.
Today, we can proudly say that we have come a long way since the first electronic communication tool was invented. The most amazing part is that there is no end to the creativity of humans, as it gets better and better each day.
Explore and Enjoy the Technological Tools at Your Disposal!
The modern stage of development can astonish everyone, which is why it's easy to forget that everything started from pictograms and petroglyphs. Even though now you can enjoy faster and better technological tools that you can use to learn, develop, entertain, stimulate yourself, and share information with others, it's always worth remembering the long way behind all of the innovations we utilize on a daily basis.
More Technology Articles
